Preamble
The Braves come back to Atlanta still with a 3-2 lead in the series, but you would think by the conversation heading into tonight's contest that the Braves were down 3-2.
It didn't help matters that David Justice drew the ire of the fanbase for the wrong reasons, saying the environment at Fulton County Stadium paled in comparison to the raucous atmosphere created at "The Launching Pad" during the last two World Series appearances.
"What I said was, the fans weren't behind us (in Game 1 and 2) as they were in 1991," Justice told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution at the time. "My whole point was a statement of fact. They weren't behind us as they were in the past."
Justice knew what he was getting into by poking the proverbial bear saying, "I'm sure they'll boo me tonight. But I can deal with that. I've only got two days left. I can deal with that," in comments also from the AJC.
The feather in the Braves cap, however remained Tom Glavine, who won 13 of his 20 games in the regular season at home, and pitching to an ERA more than a full run less at home as opposed to on the road. Glavine also dealt six innings of two-run ball in Game Two to give the Braves early control of th`e series.
Let's go inside the vault:
Watching Game 6 of the 95 World Series right now on YouTube, getting the comfort of Bob Costas, Joe Morgan & Bob Uecker in the booth. It’s magnificent pic.twitter.com/ogvUgCMyJq
— Will Palaszczuk (@WilliePStyle) March 17, 2020Tom Glavine was extraordinary his first time through the order:
Anyone else have Glavine with five strikeouts through the first time in the order? Me either #95GM6WS
— Will Palaszczuk (@WilliePStyle) March 17, 2020The Braves offense had a hard time getting going, some parts due to their own aggressiveness, other parts due to a lack of timely hitting:
#Braves already hosed in the opening inning. Lemke called out on a steal attempt of second. Chipper hits the next pitch into left for a base hit.
— Will Palaszczuk (@WilliePStyle) March 17, 2020If I didn’t know better, I’d say Rafael Belliard was swinging a wet blanket at the plate as opposed to a bat... as he strands the bases loaded in the 4th. #95WSGM6
— Will Palaszczuk (@WilliePStyle) March 17, 2020Scoreless after 5 in Game 6, and the #Braves have left a small village on base...#95WSGM6
— Will Palaszczuk (@WilliePStyle) March 17, 2020Glavine cruised through his first six innings with six strikeouts, and one meaningless single from Indians catcher Tony Pena, though those in Cleveland I'm sure will say the Braves' southpaw was the beneficiary of a little help...
Joe Brinkman’s Strike Zone in Game 6 in 95: If the ball landed in Fulton County, it was a strike...
— Will Palaszczuk (@WilliePStyle) March 17, 2020As the Braves came to bat in the bottom of the sixth, Mike Hargrove had made a defensible move to bring left-hander Jim Poole in to face the lefty-heavy portion of the Braves order. Poole had to hit for himself with a man on base in the top of the inning, and was retired while fouling out on a bunt attempt. Poole stayed in to face the much-maligned Braves outfielder David Justice to start the bottom half:
Oh David Justice leads off the sixth with a homer... you don’t say...#95WSGM6
— Will Palaszczuk (@WilliePStyle) March 17, 2020Costas: “[David> Justice turned Hargrove’s logic, to lament...” #TakeThatDabo #95WSGM6
— Will Palaszczuk (@WilliePStyle) March 17, 2020Meanwhile, Glavine was still rollin' after receiving some run support:
Not trying to break new ground here, but Glavine’s 8-inning one-hitter has to be Top Five in all World Series pitching performances... #Braves #95WSGM6
— Will Palaszczuk (@WilliePStyle) March 17, 2020You all know how this story ends, Marquis Grissom squeezes the final out from Carlos Baerga, and the Braves are World Champions.
